Sony's 4MP flagship pocket Cyber-shot of 2002 — 1/1.8in CCD, 3x zoom, aluminium body, Memory Stick storage.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P9 was the 4-megapixel flagship of Sony's slim P-series pocket compacts in 2002, sitting above the P7 and preceding the 5-megapixel P10 of 2003. The elongated aluminium-bodied design became one of the signature compact camera shapes of the era.
It couples a 4.0-megapixel 1/1.8in CCD producing 2272x1704 images with a 3x optical zoom, framed via a 1.5in TFT LCD or optical viewfinder. ISO runs 100-400, exposure is automatic, and it records movies as well as rapid still bursts. Storage is Sony Memory Stick, and the compact body measures about 4.5in wide and weighs around 7oz.
It appeals to collectors of early Cyber-shots and shooters chasing early-2000s CCD rendering in a pocketable metal body. Fully automatic operation keeps it simple; the relatively large 1/1.8in sensor for the class helped its reputation for clean daylight images.
When buying, confirm the proprietary InfoLITHIUM-type battery still charges and a charger is included, as 20-plus-year-old packs frequently fail. A working Memory Stick is near-essential given the discontinued format. Check the telescoping lens for smooth extension, the flash for charge, and the small LCD for bleed.